Isn't there already something like that...

They already sell devices that are ment to clean up hulls. They dont work too bad as long as the grass is short. They have them advertized in a lot of clays magazines

Why not just build so to speak, a tank under neath the shooting forms where you could open up little drop holes and just sweep the shells into the tank?

We have looked at devices like this and Joe shoots at his club very often. At his club they have one of these devices and he says that they never use it because it is not very effective. I know this could mean that the product ischeap andpoorly made but it still cost around $400. I realize there are solutions out there but there are very few things that do not have a solution. We are just looking to make a better solution.

convince the shotshell manufacturers to put a bit of steel in the brass to pick them up w/ a magnet.

Having steel in the end of the shell would be useful but it is highly unlikely that the companies would do this. Using a magnet is also limited to how big / strong the magnet is.

Higher end shells (AA's, Nitros) are magnetic and pick up fairly easy with standerd magnets from the hardware store. Some of the older shooters around here use them to pick up hulls for reloading.

Using a magnet still has its issues because it is slightly dependant upon the size of the magnet.

At my local range,we send all the little kids out with 5 gallon buckets, and the problem is solved!

And to think I don't have an engineering degree.....

This would be convenient to be able to do all the time but young children aren't exactly the most efficient cleaner-uppers.